Improvement of darts performance following lucid dream practice depends on the number of distractions while rehearsing within the dream - a sleep laboratory pilot study.
Melanie Schädlich, Daniel Erlacher, Michael Schredl
Journal of Sports Sciences December 1, 2017 DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2016.1267387 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot study with pre-post design Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 18 |
| Population | Adult participants in a sleep laboratory |
| Duration | Overnight (evening to morning) |
| Topics | Lucid dreaming |
| Keywords | Lucid dreams Darts Lucid dream practice Mental practice Motor learning |
| Key points | Lucid dreamers with few distractions improved dart-throwing accuracy by 18%, while those with many distractions did not improve. |
Abstract
In a lucid dream, the dreamer is aware of the dream state and can deliberately practice motor skills. Two field studies indicated that lucid dream practice can improve waking performance in simple motor tasks. The present pilot study investigated the effect of lucid dream practice in a controlled sleep laboratory setting, using a pre-post design with dart throwing in the evening and morning. The experimental group practiced darts in lucid dreams. Because some participants were distracted during lucid dream practice, the group was divided into lucid dreamers with few (n = 4) and many distractions (n = 5). Change of performance was compared to a physical practice group (n = 9) and a control group (n = 9), showing a significant interaction (P = .013, η2 = .368). Only the lucid dreamers with few distractions improved (18%) significantly over time (P = .005, d = 3.84). Even though these results have to be considered preliminary, the present study indicates that lucid dream practice can be an effective tool in sports practice if lucid dreamers find ways to minimise distractions during lucid dream practice. Moreover, the study emphasises the necessity to investigate lucid dream practice experiences on a qualitative level.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on lucid dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practicing a Motor Task in a Lucid Dream Enhances Subsequent Performance: A Pilot Study Volunteers assigned to lucid dream practice, physical practice, or control groups | 2010 | Pilot study | n = 40 |
| Cognitions in Sleep: Lucid Dreaming as an Intervention for Nightmares in Patients With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Patients suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) | 2020 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Managing Insomnia Using Lucid Dreaming Training: A Pilot Study. Adults with Insomnia Disorder | 2021 | Open-label trial | n = 48 |
| Lucid dream mathematics: An explorative online study of arithmetic abilities of dream characters Proficient lucid dreamers | 2011 | Pilot study | n = 12 |
| Lucid dreaming of a prior virtual-reality experience with ego-transcendent qualities: a proof-of-concept study. Frequent lucid dreamers | 2025 | Pilot study | n = 4 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 27
- Are Lucid Dreams Good for Us? Are We Asking the Right Question? A Call for Caution in Lucid Dream Research Frontiers in Neuroscience January 24, 2020
- Combining presleep cognitive training and REM-sleep stimulation in a laboratory morning nap for lucid dream induction. Psychology of Consciousness Theory Research and Practice April 13, 2020
- Extending mental practice to sleep: Enhancing motor skills through lucid dreaming Medical Hypotheses March 27, 2023
- Enhancing and advancing the understanding and study of dreaming and memory consolidation: Reflections, challenges, theoretical clarity, and methodological considerations Consciousness and Cognition June 27, 2024
- Enactive or inactive? Cranially envatted dream experience and the extended conscious mind Philosophical Explorations May 4, 2018
and 22 more in the library
Cites 9
- Practicing a Motor Task in a Lucid Dream Enhances Subsequent Performance: A Pilot Study The Sport Psychologist June 1, 2010
- Do REM (lucid) dreamed and executed actions share the same neural substrate? heiDOK (Heidelberg University) 2008
- Effectiveness of motor practice in lucid dreams: a comparison with physical and mental practice Journal of Sports Sciences April 7, 2015
- Time for actions in lucid dreams: effects of task modality, length, and complexity Frontiers in Psychology 2014
- Frequency of Lucid Dreams and Lucid Dream Practice in German Athletes Imagination, Cognition and Personality February 21, 2012
and 4 more in the library